ASUS presents possibly the most powerful graphics card with the limited edition ARES II. The card is powered by two Radeon HD 7970 GHz Edition GPUs and has 6GB GDDR5 memory, while it remains relatively slim with a 2-slot design. The ARES II features exclusive ASUS DIGI+ VRM and Super Alloy Power technologies for greater stability and product longevity.

ARES II debuts as a limited edition product, with only 1000 units produced. It ships in a special ROG-themed case, with each card featuring a laser-etched serial number on the aluminum backplate to denote its collectible status.



ARES II provides a custom cooler that utilizes liquid and air cooling to achieve improved heat dissipation over reference design cards. The hybrid design consists of a closed-cycle liquid system with dual 120mm fans and a radiator block that fits in most PC cases. The card itself includes an 80mm dust-proof fan to enable additional cooling for critical components such as video memory and power delivery components. The new design assures continuous stability even under full load, and achieves up to 31C cooler operation compared to a reference GTX 690.

ASUS DIGI+ digital voltage regulation technology provides precise power delivery to bolster graphics card stability and help increase overclocking flexibility. The 20-phase Super Alloy Power architecture can withstand higher temperatures and stress loads than typical designs while providing a much longer lifespan. Users can modify card parameters including core and memory speeds, fan performance, and voltages using the bundled ROG Edition GPU Tweak utility, all via an interface. Multiple profiles for individual games and applications can also be set up, and GPU Tweak doubles as a monitoring program for keeping an eye on ARES II temperatures and power consumption levels.

Specifications

Model name: ARES2-6GD5
Graphics engine: 2 x AMD Radeon HD 7970 GHz Edition
System bus: PCI Express 3.0 x 16
Video memory: 6GB GDDR5
Boost clock: 1100MHz (base clock: 1050MHz)
Memory clock: 6600MHz (1650MHz GDDR5)
Memory interface: 768-bit (2 x 384-bit)
Maximum DVI resolution: 2560 x 1600
Maximum VGA resolution: 2048 x 1536
Microsoft Direct3D version: DirectX 11
I/O: 1 x single link DVI / 1 x dual link DVI / 1 x HDMI via adapter/ 4 x native DisplayPort
Bundled accessories: 3 x 8-pin power cable / 1 x DVI to HDMI adapter / 1 x extended CrossFireX bridge
Minimum recommended power supply: 850W (42A on the 12V rail)
Power connectors: 3 x 8-pin
Dimensions: Card: 11.8" x 5.5" x 1.8"
Fan block: 4.6" x 5.8" x 1.9"
Fan: 4.7" x 4.7" x 1"
Liquid cooling tube length: 13.4"